A WOMAN has been arrested in connection with an incident in which a writer had ink thrown over her at a book signing.

A WOMAN has been arrested in connection with an incident in which a writer had ink thrown over her at a book signing.

Award-winning crime author Val McDermid carried out a signing session after giving a public lecture at Sunderland University.

But the meet-and-greet event turned sour when a woman allegedly hurled black ink over her.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation into the attack, which happened on Thursday, December 6, and a force spokesman said a woman was arrested yesterday and bailed pending further inquiries.

A spokesman said: “We have arrested a 64-year-old woman from the Hendon area on suspicion of assault and have subsequently bailed her.”

Val, 57, who brought us the popular series upon which the ITV series Wire In The Blood was based, told at the time how a woman had asked her to sign a Top Of The Pops annual with a picture of Jimmy Savile on it, which she didn’t want to do.

The 57-year-old, who lives in Northumberland, eventually signed the book, and then allegedly had the ink thrown over her.

Despite the incident, she said it would not put her off carrying out signings.

She said at the time: “People ask you to sign all sorts of things at signings and by that stage of the evening you really don’t want to get into any kind of ruck with people, so, generally speaking, if they insist on something that appears harmless, you just do it.

“It was very shocking. I was covered in black ink. My clothes were completely ruined, it was all over my face and in my mouth.

“I have been doing this for 25 years and I’ve never had anything like this happen.

“It wouldn’t put me off doing book signings because the overwhelming majority of people who come to my events are readers who are intelligent people.”

Val also praised the university, adding: “They went to a lot of effort to stage the event and absolutely no blame can be attached to them.”

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